Multi-purpose utensil

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure is related to a multi-purpose utensil comprising a first utensil member and a second utensil member. Each of the first utensil member and the second utensil member may comprise an at least partially bowl-shaped member, at least one tine extending from a first end of the at least partially bowl-shaped member, and a chopstick member extending from a second end of the at least partially bowl-shaped member, the second end being opposite the first end. The first utensil member and the second utensil member may be connected via an attachment channel positioned between a first partially bowl-shaped member of the first utensil member and a second partially bowl-shaped member of the second utensil member. When the first utensil member and the second utensil member are joined, the multi-purpose utensil may comprise a spoon section, a fork section, and an assisted pair of chopsticks.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to a multi-purpose utensil, and more particularly to multi-purpose utensils having a fork, a spoon, and a pair of chopsticks.

BACKGROUND

Spoons, forks, and chopsticks are some of the most common utensils used worldwide. Many foods may be eaten with several different utensils. However, some users may prefer one type of utensil over the other. Moreover, some foods may be more often eaten with a specific utensil for easy consumption. For example, soup may be eaten with a spoon, meat and vegetables may be more easily picked up with a fork, and traditional Asian cuisine like ramen and dumplings may be customarily eaten with chopsticks. Thus, restaurants often maintain multiple types of eating utensils to accommodate a variety of users and foods.

One conventional approach to address this challenge is to combine utensils. For example, a spoon and fork may be combined to form a “spork” or “foon.” However, this combination does not include chopsticks. Thus, a restaurant will still generally provide a separate pair of chopsticks. However, even if a user desires to use chopsticks, eating with chopsticks can be difficult for an unskilled user. Chopsticks may require the user to independently operate two individual utensils with one hand at the same time. As such, one conventional approach to making chopsticks easier to use may be to provide an assisted pair of chopsticks. Assisted pairs of chopsticks may be permanently fused at one end or may have a training guide attached to one or both chopstick members. Assisted pairs of chopsticks that are permanently attached at one end may be undesirable for skilled users who prefer to a greater range of mobility of each chopstick member. However, assisted pairs of chopsticks with a detachable guide may require a restaurant to maintain yet another utensil.

Therefore, there is a need in the market for a multi-purpose utensil that combines the functionality of a spoon, fork, and chopsticks, that users of varying skill levels can modify without requiring multiple utensils.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Other and further objects of the invention, together with the features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be made to the following drawings.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an example multi-purpose utensil in an assembled configuration;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the multi-purpose utensil of FIG. 1 ; and

FIG. 3 . is a side perspective view of the multi-purpose utensil of FIG. 1 .

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof is shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description presented herein are not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiment disclosed, but to the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristics of the present invention, proportional relationships of the elements have not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures. It will be appreciated that any dimensions included in the drawing figures are simply provided as examples and dimensions other than those provided therein are also within the scope of the invention.

The description of the invention references specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The present invention is defined by the appended claims and the description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense and shall not limit the scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate one embodiment of a multi-purpose utensil 100 in an assembled configuration. The multi-purpose utensil 100 can comprise a first utensil member 110 a and a second utensil member 110 b. The second utensil member 110 b may have an identical but mirror shape of the first utensil member 110 a, as illustrated by a first imaginary longitudinal line A which intersects the center of the multi-purpose utensil 100 in the y-direction. Therefore, for illustrative purposes, only the first utensil member 110 a, we be described in detail.

The first utensil member 110 a may be unitary in its construction, and may comprise a first bowl-shaped member 120 a which may be at least partially bowl-shaped. The first bowl-shaped member 120 a may be concave to form a reservoir. The first bowl-shaped member may have a first end 122 a and a second end 124 a. The second end 124 a may be opposite the first end 122 a in the x-direction. The first end 122 a may have a first width 126 a. The first bowl-shaped member 120 a may have a second width 126 b measured at approximately the center of the first partially bowl-shaped member 120 a, as indicated by the vertical dotted line B which intersects the center of the partially bowl-shaped member 120 a in the x-direction. Dotted line B extends parallel to a latitudinal axis of the utensil 100. The first width 126 a may be equal to or less than the second width 126 b. The second end 124 a may have a third width 126 c. The third width 126 c may be equal to, less than, or greater than the first width 126 a. The third width 126 c may be equal to or less than the second width 126 b.

At least one tine 130 may extend from the first end 122 a of the first partially bowl-shaped member 120 a. As shown, a first tine 130 a and a second tine 130 b, extend from the first end 122 a. This is not to be considered limiting. More or fewer tines 130 may extend from the first end 122 a.

A first transition portion 150 a may extend from the second end 124 a of the first bowl-shaped member 120 a. Therefore, the first bowl-shaped member 120 a may be positioned between the one or more tines 130 a, 130 b, and the first transition portion 150 a. As shown, the first transition portion 150 a may be angled with respect to the first imaginary horizontal line A.

A first chopstick member 140 a may extend from the first transition portion 150 a. Thus, the first transition member 150 a may be positioned between the second end 126 a of the first bowl-shaped member 120 a and the first chopstick member 140 a in the x-direction. A first end 142 a of the first chopstick member 140 a may be tapered. The first end 142 a of the first chopstick member 140 a may be opposite the one or more tines 130 a, 130 b. An outer edge of the first chopstick member 140 a may be parallel or in line with the widest portion of the first bowl-shaped member 120 a. As shown, the second width 126 b may be the widest portion of the first bowl-shaped member 120 a. Therefore, here the edge of the first chopstick member 140 a may be parallel to the second width 126 b of the first bowl-shaped member 120 a, as shown by a second imaginary horizontal line C that is parallel to the first imaginary horizontal line A.

As discussed above, the multi-purpose utensil 100 may be comprised of the first utensil member 110 a and the second utensil member 110 b. The first utensil member 110 a and the second utensil member 110 b may be joined by an attachment channel 170. When the first utensil member 110 a and the second utensil member 110 b are joined, the multi-purpose utensil 100 may comprise a spoon section 125, a fork section 135, and an assisted pair of chopsticks 145. Therefore, the multi-purpose utensil 100 may allow a user to consume food using the spoon section 125, the fork section 135, and/or the assisted pair of chopsticks 145. As such, instead of using three separate utensils, a user may use the multi-purpose utensil 100 to consume a variety of foods.

The spoon section 125 may be comprised of the first bowl-shaped member 120 a and a second bowl-shaped member 120 b of the second utensil member 110 b. The first bowl-shaped member 120 a may be joined to the second bowl-shaped member 120 b by the attachment channel 170. Thus, the spoon section 125 may comprise the first bowl-shaped member 120 a, the second bowl-shaped member 120 b, and the attachment channel 170 positioned between the first and second bowl-shaped members 120 a, 120 b. The spoon section 125 may be used to consume foods that may be typically eaten with a spoon, such as soups, beans, and vegetables. The spoon section 125 may have a fourth width 128. The fourth width 128 may be measured at approximately the center of the spoon section 125, as indicated by the vertical dotted line B that intersects the center of the spoon section 125 in the x-direction. The fourth width 128 may be equal to twice the width of the second width 126 b of the first partially shaped bowl member 120 a.

The fork section 135 may comprise the one or more tines 130 extending from the first end 122 a of the first bowl-shaped member 120 a and one or more tines 130 extending from a first end 122 b of the second bowl-shaped member 120 b. As shown, the fork section 135 may be comprised of the first and second tines 130 a, 130 b of the first utensil member 110 a, and a third and fourth tine 130 c, 130 d of the second utensil member 110 b. The fork section 135 may be used to consume foods that may be typically eaten with a fork, such as pasta, meat, and salad.

The assisted pair of chopsticks 145 may be comprised of the first chopstick member 140 a of the first utensil member 110 a and a second chopstick member 140 b of the second utensil member 110 b. The assisted pair of chopsticks 145 may be used to consume foods that may be typically eaten with chopsticks such as sushi, dumplings, and ramen. Moreover, the assisted pair of chopsticks 145 may be easier for a user to operate.

Typically, an un-assisted pair of chopsticks comprises a pair of chopstick members that may not be attached to each other. Therefore, it may be difficult for a user to operate an un-assisted pair of chopsticks because the user may have difficultly stabilizing the chopstick members at the same time. However, here, the assisted pair of chopsticks 145 may be more stable than an un-assisted pair of chopsticks because the first chopstick member 140 a and the second chopstick member 140 b may be part of the same utensil.

When the first utensil member 110 a and the second utensil member 110 b are joined, the first chopstick member 140 a may be substantially parallel to the second chopstick member 140 b. Therefore, the assisted pair of chopsticks 145 may have a fifth width 144. The fifth width 144 may be equal to or less than the fourth width 128 of the spoon section 125. The first chopstick member 140 a may be comprised of a material that is more flexible than the first partially bowl-shaped member 120 a and/or the one or more tines 130 a, 130 b. The second chopstick member 140 b may be comprised of the same material as the first chopstick member 140 a. Therefore, a user may be able to flex or bend the first and second chopstick members 140 a, 140 b.

To operate the assisted pair of chopsticks 145, a user may hold either the first chop stick member 140 a or the second chopstick member 140 b steady with their ring finger and base of their thumb, and then use their thumb and pointer finger to move the other chopstick member, bringing the first end 142 a of the first chopstick member 140 a and a first end 142 of the second chopstick member 140 b towards each other. It is to be understood that this is merely one description for how to operate a pair of chopsticks. Other commonly used methods for operating chopsticks may be used. When the user does not wish to pick up food with the assisted pair of chopsticks 145, the user may release one of the chopstick members 140 a, 140 b. When using the assisted pair of chopsticks 145, the user may not have to worry about dropping one or both of the chopstick members 140 a, 140 b because the first and second chopstick members 140 a, 140 b are connected. Moreover, when configured as an assisted pair of chopsticks 145, the first and second chopstick members 140 a, 140 b, may be configured to return to their original positions. Therefore, a user may find it easier to operate the assisted pair of chopsticks 145 because it may require less dexterity. However, the user may desire to use an un-assisted pair of chopsticks. Therefore, the multi-purpose utensil 100 is configured to be broken along the attachment channel 170 to form an un-assisted pair of chopsticks.

The attachment channel 170 may be designed to be a line of weakness that is more easily broken as compared to the remainder of the multi-purpose utensil 100. The first partially bowl-shaped member 120 a may have a first thickness of about 0.5 millimeters (mm) to about 2 mm. The second partially bowl-shaped member 120 b may have a second thickness approximately equal to the first thickness. It is to be understood that due to manufacturing tolerances, that the first thickness and the second thickness may not be exactly equal. The attachment channel 170 may have a third thickness. The third thickness may be less than the first thickness. The first and second partially shaped bowl members 120 a, 120 b may be comprised of the same material. The attachment channel 170 may be comprised of a material that is more brittle than the material of the first partially bowl-shaped member 120 a, and/or the material of the second partially shaped bowl material 120 b. Therefore, to separate the first utensil member 110 a from the second utensil member 110 b, a user may grip the first and second partially shaped bowl members 120 a, 120 b on either side of the attachment channel 170 and snap the attachment channel 170.

When the attachment channel 170 is broken, the multi-purpose utensil 100 forms an un-assisted pair of chopsticks comprising the first chopstick member 140 a and the second chopstick member 140 b. A user may find it easier to operate the un-assisted pair of chopsticks because it may be easier to move the first and second chopstick members 140 a, 140 b when they are not attached to each other.

As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention is not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications, applications, variations, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. Many such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present constructions will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses in applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present inventions are deemed to be covered by the inventions which are limited only by the claims which follow. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A utensil, comprising: a first utensil member; a second utensil member; wherein each of the first utensil member and the second utensil member comprise: an at least partially bowl-shaped member; at least one tine extending from a first end of the at least partially bowl-shaped member; and a chopstick member extending from a second end of the at least partially bowl-shaped member, the second end being opposite the first end; an attachment channel connecting the two at least partially bowl-shaped members to one another; and wherein the attachment channel is a line of weakness for selective breaking therealong.
 2. The utensil of claim 1, wherein when the attachment channel is not broken along the line of weakness, the utensil forms an assisted multi-purpose chopstick utensil comprising: a spoon section formed by the two at least partially bowl-shaped members; a fork section, formed by the at least one tines, and extending from the first end of the spoon section; and an assisted pair of chopsticks extending from the second end of the spoon section opposite the first end.
 3. The utensil of claim 2, wherein the assisted pair of chopsticks comprises: a first said chopstick member of the first utensil member; and a second said chopstick member of the second utensil member substantially parallel to the first said chopstick member.
 4. The utensil of claim 2, wherein: the spoon section has a first width measured parallel to a latitudinal axis of the spoon section; and the assisted pair of chopsticks has a second width measured parallel to the latitudinal axis of the spoon section, wherein the second width is substantially equal to the first width.
 5. The utensil of claim 1, wherein each of the at least partially bowl-shaped members and each of the at least one tines are comprised of an inflexible material compared to each of the chopstick members.
 6. The utensil of claim 1, wherein each chopstick member is comprised of a material more flexible than the at least partially bowl-shaped members and tines.
 7. The utensil of claim 1, wherein: each of the at least partially bowl-shaped members have a first thickness; each of the at least one tines have a second thickness substantially equal to the first thickness; and the attachment channel has a third thickness less than the first thickness.
 8. The utensil of claim 1, wherein each chopstick member has a tapered end.
 9. The utensil of claim 1, wherein when the attachment channel is broken along the line of weakness, the utensil forms an un-assisted pair of chopsticks comprising a first said chopstick member of the first utensil member and a second said chopstick member of the second utensil member, wherein the first utensil member is not attached to the second utensil member. 